Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-11

that 1t would be impossible to turn them
up with any advantage, for they are often
three times the length of the legs, and the
unfortunate wearer has TO worry his way
along walking upon the inside in some
thing the same predicament as man in A
bag. 1t has been decided to give the hero
a chance for his life. \ priest brings in a
board covered with a cloth, under which
the condemned puts his hand and draws
out bit of wood, on which his fate is
written. One of the sticks bears par
don. If he draws any but that one he is
sure to be executed, the only choice being
in the manner; and, most horrible, most
narrowing, the beautiful heroine must lose
her own bobbing, little head Two lives
hang upon the small bit of wood. The
audience watches with breathless interest
as the whitehead hero lets his trembling
hand wander under the cloth. Every eve
is on the stage. He draws piece a little
out, and then spasmodically thrusts it back
again. The acting is superb. Suddenly
he draws one cut and holds it on high.
closing his eyes. The characters are large
enough to be read by the audience, and
from the people breaks such wall as
have never heard, and hope never to hear
again, even at play.
THE WOMEN IN TIE PIT
Seem wild in their grief and sob audiblv.
while the drunken old man rises, making a
vigorous protest, saying that the first piece
which the hero partly drew was a pardon and
was a fair draw. The clerk reads the SEN
tence. The condemned man falls fainting
to the floor and is carried away, while the
mother and daughter kneel as petrifed.
gazing into each others faces.
This intensely tragic scene would be
spoiled did either mother or daughter
move The scene is painful indeed. but
not allowed to last too long, and the whole
stage is turned around upon center pivot.
disclosing a second scene. During the pa
thetic separation of the parent and child
our tiffin is brought, and boiled eggs with
rice detract somewhat from its effect. Lit
tie girls. dressed in unobtrusive brown,
help about the stage Or bring rests for the
actors to lean against when compelled to
take tiresome position for any length of
time. The last act is to bring home the
heads of the hero and heroine in large
bandboxes. Were it not for these boxes |
should be affected quite as much bv the
SAD scene as any one in the building, but
the sight OF these well-known forms and
the remembrance of happy ewes which
would light up at the sight of them puts
me out OF the tragic vein and | see the
two bearers, after presenting the boxes TO
the mother, commit hdra-kiri, and though
1t Is all realistic, do not feel any goose
flesh, and see the curtain 90 down upon the
bandboxes, the hara-kiried" and the
staring mother without gloomy thought.
THE SECOND PLAY
Is, fortunately for the eyes of the pretty
girls IN The pit, jolly farce The setting
Is 4 picnic ground at Toxic, the time, to-
day. The usual awkward countrymen, old
people, who dance with crutches, clever
young maidens who sing and snub over
confident youths, are the best features.
There Is ballet of water-carriers, all clad
like veritable coolies in the streets. Peo-
pie at home who object to the display of
tights in the ballet on our stages could
ind nothing of the kind to disturb them
here, and the most critical can find. even
with strongest lorgnette, no trace of the
article. Though the temptation of three
more plays is held out to keep us till even
ing, we go at the close of the farce, having
sat for six hours. Passing out, the occu
pants OF the box-ofIice call to us, allow did
you like it? Come again"
This is all learned of the Japanese
theater, but at the tea-house to which we
returned l learned the following: | was
surprised at not having to pay when we
hrst came, instead of upon leaving, but the
tea-house man said honest people we're not
asked to pay in advance. asked who
were the honest people and how he told
them from others. "Oh," he replied,
honest people are those who pay the
highest prices and take the best places;
people who take cheap places must pay in
advance, and in these days when shoes
are worn, of course We have little hold,
Tor we keep the shoes here. But good peo-
pie would not run away with their shoes
on or oft. So it was that our foot-fear had
been held as security for our 50-cent box.
CHAS. A. GUNSIsON